Students in the Planning, Public Policy and Management department are working with the West University neighborhood to compile demographics and other information to improve the neighborhood. Professor Marc Schlossberg said the program, in its first year using mobile mapping technology, is unique in the nation.

"The class doesn't focus just on (Geographic Information Systems) technology or field skills," Schlossberg said. "It's social planning and participation that are the main ideas of the class. How you work with communities is important, not just pointing and clicking on a screen."

Students in the Social Planning with Geographic Information Systems class combine social and technological elements, using GIS programs to map out Eugene through aerial photographs. They then use those maps to analyze the residential quality of a neighborhood -- such as street lights, dumpsters and recycle bins -- with detail down to a single street or a specific street light on that block. It may not sound absolutely essential, but neighborhoods can understand how a lack of street lights may lead to less safety for drivers on a street or make women more vulnerable to attack, Schlossberg said.

When they are out in the neighborhoods, students use a PocketPC with ArcPad GIS/GPS mapping software. An attachable camera hooks up to the PocketPC so they can take pictures of the landmarks they survey. Students can use software on the PocketPC to evaluate many aspects of the condition of a house, for example, and then mark that house on the map. Photos can be attached to landmark information on the PocketPC so students have a photo along with the data.

"It's a lot simpler than going out in the neighborhood and using a clipboard and paper," Schlossberg said. "We didn't need a rugged, high-end handheld, but simply a medium to quickly and easily store data."

Class projects include pedestrian "walkability" studies and a United Way-sponsored project that studies community demographics such as income, employment or race. United Way conducted a telephone survey of Lane County residents and then had students in the class map out the information from the survey to see if there are regional trends or patterns.

Initially, the whole class worked on the United Way project. Now students are working on individual studies, with the exception of three students who have continued to work on the United Way project.

One of the students is Grace Burgwyn, who uses the mapping technology to assess data pertaining to affordable housing and homeless youth.

"The information in our GIS maps can get very specific," Burgwyn said. "With census data or even through a phone book, I can use the map to see what house a person lives in, their name, income, or what kind of car they drive."

Graduate student Kristopher Ackerson said he crunches numbers on the insurance aspect of the United Way project -- who has insurance, where insured or uninsured people live and demographics of insured people. He is also creating a three-dimensional map of Eugene that offers demographic and geographical information.

"We got to meet with the neighborhood and we built a relationship," said Ackerson. "It's given people a chance to see what this technology could do. It's sparked a lot of ideas. GIS tools are valuable, and the ability to look at information geographically is helpful."

Graduate student Rob Stevens works with walkability studies. He uses the PocketPC to survey statistics, such as traffic volume, sidewalk conditions or architectural styles. He said the technology has been an enjoyable aspect of the class.

"I'd like to do work that ultimately benefits the community and working actively with community members," Stevens said.

The community finally saw the work that Schlossberg and his students compiled for them. Members of the West University Neighbors association met with the class yesterday to see the findings on how to improve their neighborhood.

"I think this first year has been a great experience, but it's a lot of work," Schlossberg said.